| Summary: | There is information paucity on response of Napier production to different irrigation water management strategies. The study aimed at assessing the response of dry matter Napier yields (ton/ha) to different irrigation regimes. A single factor experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design under drip irrigation with three treatments: (T1) full irrigation, and two deficit treatments at 50% (T2) and 25% (T3) of full irrigation. The control was rainfed (T0). Results indicated that T2 saved over 48% of irrigation water with minimal yield reductions (14%) compared to T1. During peak dry season, T2 water productivity was higher by 20% compared to T1. Over 40% yield increase was observed in Treatment T3 at peak dry season. In comparison with T0, there was 132% average yield increase under T2 during the first, second, and third growth cycles. Thus, irrigation at 50% total available water is critical in addressing the fodder gap and contributes to minimizing livestock movement in search of pasture, hence, increased productivity.
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